Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has refuted speculation that he is leaving the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, affirming that Rivers remains a PDP-controlled state.

Governor Fubara made this clarification to dispel false rumours circulating about his imminent departure from the party.

He reiterated his commitment to the PDP during a visit from a delegation of the PDP Board of Trustees, BoTs, led by Chairman Senator Adolphus Wabara, at Government House in Port Harcourt on Tuesday.

In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Nelson Chukwudi, Governor Fubara admitted to having doubts about his PDP membership at times but stated that the BoT’s visit reinforced his conviction that he is part of the PDP family.

Fubara said: “I want to thank the Chairman and members of the Board of Trustees. Honestly speaking, if I was having any doubt about my membership of this great party, I think today, I have gotten a reconfirmation that I am still, not minding the drama around, a member of this party.

“And I want to thank you for taking all the trouble to come to Rivers State to see the governor and the supporters of the party, genuinely. I need to use that word, genuinely, because we, that are here, are members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), undiluted.”

Governor Fubara further noted: “For once, I am happy to see the leaders, among whom are some founding fathers of the PDP, like Chief Bode George, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, Dr Okwesilieze Nwodo, joining the delegation here to talk about the unity of the party.

“I want to assure members of our party, genuine members of PDP that are here with us, that this is another hope to show that our decision to stand by the party, still standing by the party, is not a wrong decision.”

Senator Wabara, in his address, explained that the BoT’s visit aimed to address the recent tensions threatening the PDP in Rivers State and emphasised the party’s concern over potentially losing the state, warning that such a loss would have severe implications for Nigeria’s future.

He said: “We, the Board of Trustees of this party, came here in search of peace and unity of the Peoples Democratic Party.

“We have been reading all kinds of things on the pages of newspapers and the Internet, for those who are Internet savvy. But, we, as elders of this great party, decided to come to hear from the horse’s mouth.

“First of all, we want to thank you for still being there because this party should not be allowed to die. And, it is for this very reason that I am thanking you, on behalf of my colleagues, and as you can see, it’s not from one geopolitical zone. We are well represented nationally.”

Senator Wabara emphasised: “We were scared, sir, when we heard or read speculations, perceptions or what have you, that the party, if we are not careful, might lose Rivers State. Of course, if we lose Rivers State, Nigeria has lost its future.

“We don’t want what happened in 2015, and 2023 to repeat itself. These men and women you see here are very neutral. But as the conscience of the party, we must go by the rule of law. And anything you do, going by the rule of law, can never be wrong. It may be delayed, but it cannot be wrong.”